I have suffered from a yeast infection in my oesofagus which was causing me to have the feeling that I could not swallow and pain in the middle of my chest, having a camera down my throat showed that i had a yeast candida infection this was treated sucessfully. I also suffer frequently from cystitus and i am now on tablets to help slow down my need to urinate urgently and hopefull will be able to hold for a little longer. I am waiting to have a scan on my kidneys and a camera to look at my bladder. My husband has just been diagnosed as having yeast disease on his penis, he was told it is very common and will clear within a few days. I have diabetes type 2 and I am on metformin 3 times a day 500mg. I would like to know what actually causes these yeast infections and when yeast is mentioned does this actually mean yeast as in bread?. Can anyone please give some advise. Thanking you all in anticipation

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I have similar symptoms but they say it is not candida. I don't know about the yeast but I have been told to try stopping eating wheat. They thought I had thrush in my throat but it came back negative. Am waiting for an MRI of my throat. I have had a positive for ecoli on a urine test and been treated for that. But I have read that ecoli lingers inside and reoccurs even after treatment. Internet research has led me to trying D-Mannose powder. A scan of my kidneys was clear. I have had camera in my bladder which wasn't completely clear and they have offered me a second one but I am waiting for the outcome of the throat tests first. Good luck.

Unfortunately having diabetes means you are at increased risk of Candida infection (also known as thrush), possibly because of the higher level of sugar that tends to encourage the yeasts to grow. You can minimise this problem in a few ways but maintaining as good control of the levels of sugar in your blood as you can is the start point.

Candida is a yeast but is different to the types of yeast use to make bread & beer for example. Candida grows quite naturally in our bodies and causes no problems until things get out of balance - e.g. after antibiotic use, too much blood sugar as both of these change the complex balance of microbes growing in our guts and on our skin. Back in the 1950's & 60's we used to think that getting rid of all microbes (germs) on our skin was the aim to ensure good health. Nowadays we are finding that encouraging the correct balance of good & bad microbes is more important. Once we can do that your Candida will stop overgrowing, until then it may need an antifungal medication - ask your doctor for help.

NB your husband's infection will disappear because his 'good' microbes will stop the candida from growing too much after a few days.